Dental floss holder



Sept. 27, 1932. R. w. CAMMACK 1,879,074

DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Filed Jan` 4, 1932 FEE Roberiwgammack Patented Sept. 2.7, 1932 wenn ROBERT WALTER k(JAlVJIlVlACIK, OF MOUNT' VERNON, NEW YORK ADENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Application filed January 4, 1932, SerialNo. 584,675.

This invention relates to dental iioss hold ers designed to hold a strand of dental floss taut and in a convenient manner to be easily inserted between the teeth for removing any f. parts,

material and will in no way injure the hand or mouth when being used.

Referring tothe accompanying Adrawing` which is made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar v Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation of the holder, Y

Figure 2, an enlarged perspective view of the head showing the cut-olf in position, 1

Figure 3, a view in elevation of the inner end of the head, showing the cut-ofi mounted thereon,

u. formed adjacent the handle 10` as clearly` Figure 4, a top view of the cut-ofi1 and a portion of the head of the holder, and l Figure 5, substantially a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3. In the drawing reference character indicates a hollow handle which servesas a magazine for a coil of dental floss and is provided with a closure cap or plug 11 tted on one end. The other end of the h andle is provided with a reduced externally threadedl ferrule 12 adapted to engage a threaded socket 13 in the head 14. The ferrule 12 is provided with a groove or notch 31 shown in Figure 5 and for a purpose which will be later described. The nead 14 is provided with spaced piongs 15 and 16 across the extremities of which a strand of floss 17 is stretched. The head 14 is further provided with a passage 18 extending from the bottom of the socket 13 to the forward end of the head and connects with a similar passage 19 in the prong 15 and which is substantially perpendicular thereto.

The inner portion of the extremity of the prong 15 is notched at 20-and is inalignnient with a groove 21 in the extremity of the prong 16 in order to hold a strandof floss in proper position when stretched across them. The cut-oli 22 is secured by a prong 55 or similar device 23 to the inner end of the head 14. The eut-0H 23 is in the form of a lock washersplit at 24 and formed of any suitable metal but preferably -o-f stainless spring steel. The edges of the cut-off are en flush or may be slightly countersunk with respect to the head and the handle to prevent any danger of cutting the hand or mouth when the Idevice is being used. A. portion 25 of the circumference of the cut-on is cut 65 and turned in a manner to provide a lip 26- wliich seats in a recess 27 in the head 14.

VThe tip of this turned .portion is cut away as clearly shown in Figure 4 at 28.

This operation forms cutting edges 29 and 7;)

30 which may be sharpened and through which a strand oit' floss when pulled will be out. 1f desired one side of the cut-oif may be roughened where the flo-ss contacts to prevent slipping. Y p y In threading the holder, the head 14 and the cap 11 are removed from the handle and a supply of floss is placed in the handle with one end extending through the ferrule 12.

The cap is-then replaced. The end of the floss'is threaded through the passages 18 and 19 and a length suflicientto extend over the prongsis pulled out. -Thle handle is turned into the head and the free side of' the cnt-off adjacent the split 24 engages in 85 the groove 31 since this portion Vtends to spring slightly inwardly due to its structure being of a lock-washer type as sliown'in Figure 3. The handle is unloosened approximately one turn, the groove 31 carries this 90 portion with it leaving a space between the cutoff and the head into which the free end of the gloss may be readily inserted and guided to the cutting edges 29 and '30. The

floss is then cut and the handle tightened.

Should itbe desirable to completely sepa# rate the handle and the head, thegroovev 31 is so formed'with a rounded edgethat-it will release the cut-0H after traveling a short distance. 1 Y 1 between the head and the handle thus making the floss taut across the prongs. The device is then ready for use.

Should it be desired to substitute a new length of floss after use this is accomplished by simply unloosening the handle and pulling a length sufficient to allow the used portion to clear the cut-off when replaced on the rear prong and between the cut-0E and the head. The surplus is then cut off and the head is again tightened, It is not necessary to re-thread the device until the floss becomes broken or is exhausted from the handle and at nol time is it necessary to touch the floss prior to its use.

This cut-olf arrangement is simple in 2 structure, positive in action and is not eX- posed when the device is being used, therefore it will not become soiled and will not injure the mouth or hand by cutting them as is frequently the case in other devices of this type.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the arty that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown inthe drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated by the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A dental floss holder comprising a head having spaced prongs thereon, a handle threaded into saidhead, a passage from said handle through said head extending to the tip of the remote prong, and means mounted at the intersection of said head and handle for severing said floss, substantially as set forth.

i 2. A dental floss holder comprising a head having spaced prongs thereon, a magazine handle secured to said head, a passage from said handle through said Vhead extending through the prong remote from the handle, and shearing means mounted between said head and handle at their intersection for cutting said floss, substantially as set forth.

3. A dental floss holder comprising a head having a pair of spaced prongs, a socket in said head at the outer side of one of the prongs, the outer side of the prong adjacent said socket being relatively straight, a passage through the head from said socket to the extremity dof the remote prong, a handle threaded into said socket, and shearing means positioned at the intersection of said head and` said handle for cutting off the used floss, substantially as set forth. Y

4. Adental floss holder comprising a magazine handle, ahead having'al pair of prongs and a socket to receive said handle, a passage from the bottom of said socket to the eX- tremity of the remote prong whereby Hoss may be threaded from the handle through the head across the prongs and secured between said head and said handle, and a cutolf positioned between the inner ends of said head and said handle for cutting said floss, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with a dental floss holder having a magazine handle and a channeled head of a cut-olf mounted between said handle and said head comprising a flat washer provided with a securing element thereon and a notched circumference forming a pair of cutting edges for severing a strand of floss when placed between them, substantially as set fortl 6. In combination with a dental floss holder having a handle and a head of a cutoil1V positioned intermediate said handle and head comprising a. flat split washer having a notched circumference forming a pair of cnttlng edges, the free ends at the split portion being adapted to spring apart when the head and handle are loosenedito permit insertion of the floss and serve as a guide for the floss to the cutting edges, substantially as set forth. i j

.7. A dental floss holder comprising a magazine handle, a head having ay pair of prongs and a socketto receive said handle, a passage from the bottom of said socket to the eX- tremity of the remote prong whereby floss may be threaded from the handle through the head across Vthe prongs and secured between said head and said handle, a cut-o positioned between said head and said handle for cutting said floss, and means on said handle adapted to engage and to separate said cut-off from said head as the handle is loosened in the socket, substantially asset forth. l

8. A dental floss holder comprising a handle having a reduced end and a groove .formed at the junction thereof, a head having a pair of prongs and a socket to receive said reduced end of the handle, a passage from. the bottom of said socket to the eX- tremlty of the remote prong whereby floss may be threaded from the handle through the head across the prongs and secured between said head and said handle for cutting said floss, said cut-off adapted ,to engage in said groove as the handle is loosened in the socket thereby separating said cut-olf from said head, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Mt. Vernon, New York, this twentysecond day of December, A.. D. nineteen hundred and thirty-one.

Bonner WALTER cAMMAoK. 

